Ministers Demand Meeting with PM on Terrorist Release Policy

After the murder of two IDF soldiers, ministers are demanding a review of government policy on releasing terrorists.

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David Lev, 23/09/13 20:37

Minister Naftali Bennett

Flash 90

Ministers sent a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Monday afternoon demanding a government meeting to discuss the government's policies on releasing terrorists.

“In recent days, we have witnessed two difficult murders that took the lives of two soldiers – Tomer Hazan and Gal Kobi. As a result, we demand an immediate government meeting on the policies regarding the release of terrorists,” the letter said.

On Friday, IDF solider Tomer Hazan was abducted and murdered in Samaria by terrorist Nadal Amar, with the motive said by IDF officials to be a plan by the terrorist to trade Hazan's body for the freedom of his brother, a Fatah terrorist who has been in jail in Israel for the last ten years. The soldier went missing Friday, and after a Shabak investigation, soldiers descended on the home of Nadal in the village of Bayt Amin, near Kakilya. The IDF later successfully recovered Hazan's body, which had been dumped in an underground well.

On Sunday, meanwhile, IDF soldier Gabriel (Gal) Kobi of Tirat Hacarmel was killed after an Arab sharpshooter targeted him while he was on patrol in Hevron. The attack took place in the Avraham Avinu neighborhood near the Machpelah Cave in the city, at about 6:30 PM. A Magen David Adom crew treated the victim, who was struck by bullets in his upper body. He was later taken by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, where he died of his wounds.

Speaking Sunday, Economics Minister Naftali Bennett said he was demanding a review of the government's policy on releasing terrorists. “Since the release of terrorists was the key to the opening of negotiations, the unfortunate developments behoove the government to rethink its position on the matter. The answer to terror must be a fight against murderers, not a dialog with them,” he said.